Governor for compressors.



1. LOSBORNE. GOVERNOR FOR COMPRESSORS. APPLIcmoN man MAY 29, 1913.

.wein i wl f #UNS in :5mm 1 mi evnwnt su that l may ha www Vmr (hun ms against LUV Im Us' Mju mx 9,5 Other 'pacte' (if H210, ir-Mmmm@ anni' f uzwwf more m' f'e aswcbxuxifm being shown in wf bracket 4.9 on a column 13, all as in said patent. To the upper end of the shaft G8 is fixed an arm 17, provided with a bearinghoss .30 which engages one end of a horizontally-disposed lever 18. This lever is pivoted, at its middle, on a pin 19 mounted in a bracket ZO which projects from the bottom ot' the sleeve 12, so that the fulcrum of the leveiI 1S moves horizontally with the sleeve. The opposite end of the lever 18 bears against the lower end of a lever Q1, which cmistitutes a part of what is hereinafter described as the pressure-controlled element of the governor. A spring-pressed plunger lf3, slidingly mounted on the arm 17, has a pointed head 47 which bears in a socket 4S integral with the bracket 49. This plunger tends constantly to swinb the arm 1T, and rotate the throttle-valve 15, in a direction to open the valve, and in this manner the arm 17 and the levers 18 and 21 are maintained constantly in cooperative rela tion through force-closure. The movements of the arm and of the tl'nottle-valve are controlled. however, by the relative position of the tulcrum 19 and the lever 21. In this manner the throttle-valve is controlled, as in the governor disclosed in my said patent, in accordance with the relative positions of the sleeve 12, as determined by the centrifugal mechanism, and of the pressure-con trolled element, as determined by thc pressure in the receiver.

The pressure-controlled element, in which the present invention particularly resides, comprises a cylinder 23, which is mounted in vertical position upon the column 22, the ijylinder being provided, for this purpose, with a lug 2.3 which is engaged by a screw iil passing through the column.` as shown inV Fig. 5. The connections between the pressure-ctnitrolled (lement and the lever 18, by the merc engagement of the ends ol the levers 18 and 21, is such as to permit the i;ressurc-coutrolled element to be readily detached from the rest ot' the governor, when desired, by merely removing thc screw 2l.

Integral with the cylinder 23 is a bracket 26, provided with a horizontal pivot-pin 7 upon which the lever 21 is mounted, the bracket 26 constituting also the support for certain other parts of the mechanism ofthe pressure-controlled element, as hereinafter described.

l'Vithin the lower part of the cylinder a piston 29 is inclosed, this piston having a substantially air-tight tit in the cylinder but being freely movable therein. This pis ton is actuated by compressed fluid from the receiver, the Huid heilig admitted to the lower end of the cylinder through an inlet, rhown in Fig. 3, which is connected with fh. rcwfiver by a litting 35 and a pipe 30. 'lire upper end oll the piston is provided with a biturcated projection Ill), of which the middle-portion is engaged by one arm 31 ot a bell-crank level' mounted on a pivotpin 32 in the bracket 2b. The other arm 33 of the bell-crank lever provided with a roller 3l, which engages the lei er 21 between its pivot Q7 and its lower end, as shown in Fig. 2. This arrangement is such that when the piston '29 rises in the cylinder 23 the bell-crank lever is rocked in a direc tion to swing the lever 2lV outwardly, or to the left as shown in Fig. 2, the movement being multiplied by the action ot' the levers. In this manner the movements of the piston, due to .'ariations in the pressure in the receiver, are communicated, through the various levers, to the throttle-valve, so as to vary the speed ot' the engine accordingly.

To counterlmlance the pressure against the piston 29 I employ, as in the governor of my said patent, a spring ol which the force may be adjusted in accordance n ith the pressure which it is desired to maintain in the receiver. ln the present construction, however, this spring is arranged to act upon the piston without the intermediation of the mechanism by which the piston is connected with the other parts of the governor. The upper part of the cylinder i223 provides a housing tor this spring, and the spring is coiled about a tubular guide This guide is provided, at its lower end, with a plug $39 which slides treel y within the cylinder, and which affords a seat for the lower end of the spring. At the middle of the lower sur't'ace of the plug is a pointed pivot 40, which rests in a recess in a plate 41, which also slides freely in the cylinder'. The downward movement of the plate is limited by a shoulder 42 on the inner surface of the cyl i nder.

The upper end ot` the spring Si bears against a screw-threailed sleeve I3, which'is screwed into the upper end of the cylinder Q3 and is locked in place by a lock-nut 44. The spring-guide 38 slides `freely through the upper end of the sleeve 43. but is pro- .vided with a flanged plug l5 at its upper end, which limits the downward movement of the guide with respect to the sleeve.

lVhen the piston z) is at its lowermost position in the cylinder 23 the plate 41 rests upon the shoulder l2, but as soon as the piston begins to move upwardly the upper extremities of the bifurcated projection 30 engage the lower surface of the plate, Soins to raise the plate and the spring-guido and upon the projection ency to cause lateral pressure between the piston and the cylinder. lt has the further advantage that when the sleeve 43 is turned to screw it into or out ol' thecylinder,and

thus regulate the compressionofthe spring 250, without any tendrlr` coiled around the rod 56, with its lower end in engagement with a flange 62 on the rod. 'l he upper end oi' the spriner is seated against a cap bil. v'lucli i- ,screwed upon the upper cud .l h casing (l5. and the pressure ofthe spring ma). be adjusted by screwing the cap up or :lo-wn. The ciuitrolhng-valve 1s actuated by connections with the piston Q9. To this ind nuts 6l are screwed upon the threaded upper end ot' the rod 56, while an arm '35 is screw ed into the upward projection 3U on the pistou. and projects horizontally through a vertical slot 66 in the side of the cylinder 23, as shown 1n l `1gs. l and The arm has, at its outer end, a forked cxtrcmity 6T which embraces the rod 56 below the nuts 6l, and which is adapted, when the piston 22') is near the upper end of its range of movement, to engage the nuts and raise the rod 5G, thus lifting the controlling-valve 73 from its seat.

In addition to its essential function as a device for admitting fluid to the unloader, when the consumption of" fluid from the receiver is interrupted and the pressure in the receiver rises to a predetermined degree, the

controlling-valve and the associated parts above described coperate, in a novel manner, with the other parts of the governor to control the movement of the compressor-engine. I have found in practice that it is desirable to utilize the centrifugal element of the governor only for the purpose of controlling the engine-speed at or near the predetermined maximum, while at the lower engine speeds, corresponding to lower rates of consumption of the compressed luid,the engine-speed is permitted to vary in accordance with fluctuations in the receiver pressure, or in the resistance to which the movement of the engine is subjected by the compressor-pump, under the sole control of the pressiire-controlled element of the governor. In the illustrated governor this is accomplished by employing, in connection with the centrifugal element, a coiled spring 74 which resists the movenielt of the sleeve 69 under the influence of the thus holding the weights in their normal in- `ner position until the compressor-engine reaches a speed near its` predetermined maximum. Accordingly, when the engine is operating at a low speed, under the control of the pressure-controlled element, and is then suddenly unloaded by the action of the unlo:ule.rcontrolling valve, it will tend to accelerate itsspced immediately upon being so unloaded, unless provision against this is made indcjnnflcntly of the centrifugal mechanism. This tendency is provided for and coutrollml. however, by the pressure-conl-rolled clement ot the present governor. flaring thc normal luctuations in the presiwfe'eof' the compressed fluid, below the norni'alV predetermuied maximum pressure, the

governor-weights 10,'

piston 29 rises and falls under the counterbalanced action of the fluid-pressure and the .spring 3T, without causing the unloader to operate. The nuts 6l on the rod 56 are so adjusted, however, that when the fluid-pressure reaches this predetermined degree the nuts are engaged by the part G7. The resistance of the spring' 6l is then added to that' of' the spring 3T, to oppose further rising movement of the piston 29. The movement of' the piston is thus momentarily arrested, and the `governor is preferably so arranged that at thisI moment the engine shall be operating at the lowest speed at which, in the case of a single-acting compressor, its continued rotation can be insured according to the weight of the fly-wheel with which the engine is provided. thus providing for a minimum consumption of steam or other motive-fluid when the consumption of compressed fluid is at a minimum or has ceased. The continued operation of the engine, however, causes a continued increase in the pressure of the compressed fluid, so *hat presently the pressure, acting through t e piston 29, is sufficient to overcome the spring G1 as well as the spring 37, and the rod 56 is then lifted, thus raising the valve 73 from its seat and admitting compressed fluid, through the inlet 57, to the valve-casing 55, and thence, through thc pipe 59, to the unloadcr, which immediately throws the pump out of operation and unloads the engine. This admission of compressed fluid to the valve-casing causes the rod fto act as a piston, since the fluid tends to force the rcd upwardly out of the cylindrical casing in which, as before stated, it forms a substantially fluid-tight t. The diameter of' the rod 'and the force of the spring 61 are so selected and adjusted, in accordance with the predetermined pressure of the compressed fluid, that this piston-like effect is sufficient to almost overbalance the pressure of the spring 61. Accordingly, the piston 29 is suddenly relieved of a part of the counterbalancing force, and it immediately rises further in thek cylinder :23, thus acting, throu h the lever-connections of the governor, to urther close the throttle-valve 15. By a suitable adjustment of the mini.- mum-spced stop-screw 52, the length ot' this lnovement may be so determined that the effect upon the throttle-valve is just sufficient to throttle down the engine toA the minimum permissible speed at which the engine can run when unloaded. thus preventing any nnvnecessary consumption of motive-fluid in the engine, while at the same tune preventing thc engine frein coming entiiely to rest.

After the unloader has operated ,ind the `engine-speed has been reduced to a :nini-- mfhxx muy be detached from the other wf the [n'eesssnrerontlolled elmnent. Hw nm pnx'pm-te the vnh'c-cnsng 35 and the A 23.3 :we Ine/rely uuskfrewod from the @fr 3 und the :um 65 nnscrewed .hu pmmn. Accordingly, the governor an furnished either with or without 'hvff mmm without any alte ation in its eb mini Qvments.

E chin;

En u A-gowrnm', n, pressm'v means` for operatively connecting the piston with the valve controlled thereby, comprising a lcrer having an arm extending in front of the piston and loosely engaged thereby; and a spring-pressed counter! alancing-member independent of said means but located in front of the piston and loosely engaged thereby, the cylinder and the counterlnilaneing-member having cooperating abutments to limit. the movement olI the latter when the piston is withdrawn therefrom.

5. In a compressor-governor, a pressurecontrolled element having, in combination. a cylinder provided. at both ends. with removable closures; a piston movable within the cylinder near one end thereof; means for admitting fluid to said end of the cylinder; a counterbalancing-spring inclosed within the cylinder near the other end thereof and means for connectin the piston with the valve controlled there wy, said means comprising a lever extending transversely into the cylinder and engaging the end of the piston which is adjacent said spring.

G. In a compressor-governor, a pressurecontrolled element having, in combination, a cylinder provided, at both ends, with removable closures; a piston movable within the cylinder near one. end thereof; means for admitting fluid to said end of the cylinder; a counterbalancing-spring inclosed within the cylinder near the other end thereof; means, for connecting the piston with the valve controlled thereby, said means comprisiner a lever extending transversely into the cy inder and engaging the end of the piston which is adjacent said spring; and a member engaged by the spring and adapted to be engaged by the piston to transmit the force of the spring to the piston, said member and the cylinder having cooperating abutments to limit the movement of said member under the influence of the spring.

7. III il Compl`QSSOl'gO\'C1'IlOI's il PI'OSSIU'Q- controlled element having, in combination, a cylinder; a piston movable within the cylinder near one end thereof; means for ad- .mitting fluid to said end of the cylinder; a coiled compression-spring inelosed vvithin the cylinder near the other end thereof; a spring-follo\\er engaged by the spring; an intermediate member having a central pivotal connection with the spring-follower and adapted to be engaged by one end of the piston: meansfor connecting the piston with the valve controlled thereby, and a rotatable member having threaded connections with the cylinder and engaging the end of the spring to adjust the compression thereof.

In a compressor-governor, a pressurecontrolled element having, in combination, a cylinder; a piston movable within the cylinder, near one end thereof, the cylinder having an inlet-opening for fluid at said end and the piston having a bifurcated projection at its opposite end; a spring-pressed counterbalancingmember movable within the cylinder, near the other end thereof, and cooperating with said projection; and mains for connecting they piston with the valve controlled thereby, said means comprising a lever pivotally connected with the cylinder and having an arm projecting transversely into the cylinder and engaging the piston between the bifurcations of said projection.

9. In a compressor-governor, a pressureeontrolled element having, in combination, a cylinder provided, at one end` with an inlet for the admission of fluid; a piston movable in the cylinder near said end: a counterbalancing-spring inclosed within the cylinder near the other end thereof; an adjusting-sleeve engaging one end ot' the spring, and having a screw-threaded connection with the cylinder whereby the sleeve may be moved to adjust the eonipression of the spring; connections, between the piston and the spring, including a guide engaged by the opposite end of the spring and movable longitudinally through the end of said sleeve, said guide being loosely engaged by the piston and having an abutment adapted to be engaged by the sleeve to limit the eX- pansion of the spring when the sleeve is unscrewed from thc cylinder. and means, independent of said guide, for connecting the piston with the valve controlled thereby.

l0. In a compressor-gravern(n. the combination of an unlonder-controlling device, and means operating automatically, when said device throws the unloader into operation, to eiect a sinmltaneou.` and substai'itial reduction in the supply of motive-fluid to the compressor-engine.

l1. In a compressoir-governor, the combination of a member subject to, and movable in accordamfe with. the pressure of the compressed fluid; means for connecting said member with a governing-valve; an nnloader-controller, connections between said controller and said member whereby the controller is actuated, to throw the unloader into operation. when said member reaches` a prmletermined position in conscfpience of the rise in pressure of the compressed fluid: and yielding means. connected will: .said member, for eounterbalancing the pressure against it, said means being adapted to subject said member to a resistance which is substantially reduced coineidcntly with the operative movement of the iniloader-controller.

In a compressor-governor, the combination of a member subjected to. and movable in accordance with, the pressure of the compressed fluid; means for connecting said member with a gmerning-valve; an unloader-controlling valve; connections, be.- tween the latter valve andsaid member, whereby the valve may be moved to operate and n pis, -iluet antleonneeted nieinher rea-eh ay :ire o opposing the combined U: men-her anni :nifl controlling- :l produce n re tance to 'fl nienioer Whirl'i is Sul)- .--t: nti. ill v value-ul :'*oineidently with the operntim i ,vement of the controlling-valve.

i3. V,in a i n frernor the combition o f Y ted to, and inovile in nel f nre of the al nnziniez" l to operate t r remixes a in determined poe non in consequence ol the rise in pri eure ol the compres ,fl lhinl;

and inmune, ,r opposing* the eonihined nction ol' Said member and Said uontrollingvolvo adapted to produce a reeistanee to movement ot iiel member which is suhstantially re hu3e l roincidently with the operative movement of the Controlling-valve and substantially increased roincidently with ite` return to normal inoperative position.

il. ln a inupi'eseorgovernori the combiimtiorn with a throttle-valve,o'l centrifugal )infants for fmitrolling)r the throttle-valve at the higher speels; oi' the comoFessel-engineg :ind pire-anw-eontrolled nvieaney for Controlling the hi'oiie-valvn :it the lower engine-y spoeihs, the. pre. ingr an unl-entier ml, upon the ezine sore in the.l oon'ipreesell iluill, to actuate the iinloaflor-controller and therehy canse the engine to he unloaded, and to siniuitaneonely impart a sudden andrv enhetantial closing inovmnout to the thro?` tie-val ve to compensate for the unloading of the engine,

l5. ln a nonipresser-goveinor, the combination, with. t i'neinlfer feuhject to, and inorahle in aecoriianee with, the pressure of the compressed finiti and means or connecting sai-1l member with a governing-valve, of aJ pneumatic"duet f( conducting compressed 'hiitl to an unloarler; n controller-valve for Controlling the. admission of fluid t Said duet; Conneetions between said valve anti said neniher whereby the valve may be controller und. being adapt- .oponecl hy the movement of sai@ Ine-miner.

upon the excess of n predeternnnefl pressaue in the compressed fluid; eounteroal- :inning-means resisting such movement and 'hohl i n g he'eontroller-valve normally close- *on eohieet to thelpressiire in 'said said. pieton acting in opposition to the connterhahineingmeans when fluid 1s admitted to seid duet by the opening of the eontrollervalve, i

,cont-rollin the. admisbion of ire eontrolhir means ine-hnl-` 5 of a predetermined pree- #with a lateral opening; with the controller-valve,

l5. ln a complessor-governor, the combdinntion, with a ineniher snhjeet to, and nioven orosseil fluid, and. means 'for connecting said n'ieinher with a governing-valve, of a pnueinatie duct for Conducting compressed lluid to an unloader; a controller-valve for fluigl to said duet; connections heb-veen said valve and said member whereby the valve may be opened by the movement of said member orion the excess of predetermined pressure in Nie compressed llni'tl; eoiuiterbalaneing ineai resisting snrh inove t. the n.troller-valve noi-iA y closed; and a piston si et to the prees-nre in Said duct eonnwtetl with the eontroller-valve, said pieton aeting in opposition to the'counterhalamini means when fluid is aclmitted to said Iduet hy tin?. opening of the controllervalve and Said (luft having an opening through which the compressed fluid may escape when the controller-valve is closed.

1l'. In a, compveneer-governor, a pressure lcontrolled element having, in Combination, n cylinder and with a lateral opening; a piston movable within the'fylinde g an arm projecting, from the piston, through said lateral opening; in the Cylinder; an unloatlor-valve casing, alongside the C linder, having an outlet unil havingr an inlet (connected with the inlet of .the Cylinil-r; and u Spring-pressed unloacler-valve normally closing the inlet in the valve-Casing' and having an alm'tnient adapted to he engaged by sail'arm to open and movement of the piston in the cylinder.

i8. l'n a connnessi()r-governon n pressurecontrolled element having, in combination, a cylinder provided with an inlet for fluid and with a lateral opening; a piston movable within the eylinfler; an arni projecting, from the piston, through said lateral openingl in the cylinder; an unloader-valve casing, alongside the cylinder, having an outlet and havin f an inlet connected with the inlet of the cylinder; and a swing-pressed unloader-vnlve normally closing the inlet in the valve-casing and having,r an abutment adapted to 'he engaged by Suid arm to the unloader-valve in consequenre of the movement of the piston in the cylinder, the valve-casing having also a minute constantly-open escape-vont connected with the outlet from the valve-casing.

19. In a compreesor-governor, a pressure-v in amor-flauto .vrth, the pressure of 'thev provided with an inlet for fluid open controlled element having. in combination, a

cylinder provided with an inlet for `fluid and a piston i'novoble 1n the cylinder; a Avalve-casing, alongside the cylinder, provided lwith an outlet and with Y an inlet communicating with the inlet to the cylinder; an unioader-valve controlling the inlet to the volvi/waging;

and an arm projecting from the piston, through said lateral opening in the cylinder, and adapted to cooperate with the unloader-valve to move the latter in accordance with the movement ot the piston within the cylinder.

20. In a compressor-governor, a pressurecontrolled element having, in combination, a cylinder provided with an inlet for fluid and with a lat-eral opening; a piston movable in the cylinder; a valvecasing, alongside the cylinder, provided with an. outlet and with an inlet communicating with the inlet to the cylinder; an unloader-valve controlling the inlet to the valve-casing; and an arm projecting, from the piston, through said e lateral opening in the cylinder and adapted to cooperate with the unloader-valve to mme the latter `in accordance with the movement of the piston within the cylinder, the valve-easing and the arm being removable from the cylinder and the piston respectively.

2l. In a compressor-governor, a pressurecontrolled element having, in combination, a 1`cylinder provided, at one end, with an inlet for fluid and with a removable closure; a piston movable within the cylinder near said end; a valve-casing, 4alongside the cylinder, provided with an outlet and with an inlet connected with the inlet to the cylinder; an unloader-valve, in the valve-casing', controlling the inlet thereto, and and arm, removably mounted in the piston, projecting through said lateral opening in the cylinder, and cooperating with the unloadnu'- valve to control the val-ve in accordance with the movements of the piston, the piston beingl removable through the end of the evlinder when said arm and said closure are removed from the piston and the cylinder, rcspectively.

2Q. In a complessor-governor, the combi4 nation of a motivefluid valve, a preseurecontrolled clement, and means actuated by said element and adapted, as the pressure of the compressed fluid rises toward a predetermined maximum, to move Said valve gradually tow'ard closed position, and to simultaneously unload the compressor and impart a definite and more rapid clesirg movement to Said valve when the pressure of the compressed fluid reaches aid maximum.

23. In a com])lessor-governor the combiA nation of -in unloadereontroll valve, a motive-fluid valve, a pressure controlled element, and means actuated by said element and adapted to close the motive-Huid valve gradualv as the pressure of the compressed lfluid rises toward a predetermined maximum, and to impart a definite and more rapid Closing movement to the motivefluid valve, and at the same time open the unloader-controlling valve, when the pressure of the compressed fluid reaches a predetermined maximum.

JOHN L. OSBORNE.

Vitnesses:

FAuNUM I?. DoRsnY, D. (human. 

